Monday, February 22, 2016

Jenn Sadai - Dark Confessions of a Woman and Dirty Secrets of Employee

Jenn Sadai – An Author Interview

Jenn Sadai wanted to be a writer when she was only 13

Jenn Sadai wrote her first book in February 2014

Jenn Sadai always knew she wanted to be a writer and wrote her first short story when she was only thirteen years old. Unfortunately, unforeseen responsibilities and significant debt sent her down a different path before she even began. It wasn’t until her Uncle Jeff, who was faced with a terminal illness at age fifty, convinced her that she owed it to herself to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. Her brief venture as a freelance writer resulted in her first book, Dark Confessions of an Extraordinary, Ordinary Woman, which was published in February of 2014.

Jenn Sadai’s second book, Dirty Secrets of the World’s Worst Employee, is the story of her crooked career path that led her to her true calling. It highlights the entertaining and embarrassing mistakes she made along the way and the valuable lessons she learned on her journey. Jenn was born in Windsor, Ontario, where she still lives with her wonderful husband and two lovable labs. She loves to run and has finished two full marathons and five half-marathons. Jenn Sadai truly believes that anything in life is possible if you chose to make your goals a priority.

I am a Business Marketing graduate from St. Clair College of Applied Arts & Technology.

What career did you plan during your education days?

The idea of making a living as an author seemed too unrealistic when I first graduated high school, so I went into marketing with the intention of becoming a copywriter. Instead, I found employment as a waitress, bookkeeper, and buyer. I did eventually end up working as a copywriter, but it never came close to the same fulfillment I have now as an author.

What is your biggest source of inspiration in life?

My past is my biggest source of inspiration. I used to feel hopeless and thought I would never have a life worth living. My life is incredible now and I appreciate the second chance God gave me. Sharing my stories and writing about my struggles is the best way I know how to show that I’m grateful for this life.

What hurts you most in this world?

All forms of cruelty and violence. There is never a good excuse to intentionally harm someone. It doesn’t matter if it is verbal or physical, the pain hurts the same.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced? How did you overcome it?

I’ve finished two full marathons, so you would think that would be my biggest challenge, but it wasn’t really. It did, however, help boost my confidence, which was a necessary part of overcoming the most difficult challenge in my life. Rebuilding my self-esteem after being in an abusive relationship was a constant, uphill battle. I had to undo every insult and reassure myself repeatedly that I deserved to have a good life. It took over ten years to teach myself how to appreciate the person I’ve becomes and now I’m using my experiences to inspire others. I can now say that I honestly love myself, flaws and all.

When did you start writing? What is the purpose of your writing?

I started writing poetry and short stories in grade school but stopped for most of my twenties. My inspirational Uncle Jeff encouraged me to use my writing abilities to earn a living when his life was suddenly cut short by Leukemia. I started off as a freelance copywriter and then was inspired to write my own life story after reading Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert. I knew I had a message worth sharing and decided it was time for my voice to be heard.

Which of your work has been published so far? Would you like to share a synopsis of your work?

I’ve published two self-help memoirs so far and I have a third scheduled to be released later this year. My first book, Dark Confessions of an Extraordinary, Ordinary Woman, is the story of how I ended up in an abusive relationship. It follows me from an insecure teenager to a depressed young adult who came very close to losing her life before discovering its worth.

In September 2015, I published the professional side of my journey, Dirty Secrets of the World’s Worst Employee. It explores my unpredictable career path and discussing important issues such as workplace bullying, sexual harassment, and gender inequality.

What are your forthcoming writings?

My third story, Cottage Cheese Thighs, is a deeply personal look at my battle with the scale. It delves into the insecurities most women face in regards to their bodies and how I’ve finally freed myself from my weight obsession.

What genres you write in and why?

My first two published books and my soon-to-be-published third book are all different forms of self-help memoirs. My goal is to use my past mistakes to create awareness for sensitive topics such as domestic violence, depression, workplace bullying, harassment, and body-shaming. I truly believe my stories will help women (and men) feel better about their past mistakes while also inspiring them to create more rewarding futures.

What keeps you motivating towards writing?

I once kept my thoughts to myself and it nearly cost me my life. I was too embarrassed to admit I was in a toxic relationship, so I cut myself off from those who loved me. Now that I’ve discovered my voice, I intend to use it to create awareness and comfort those who feel stuck in similar situations.

If Writing a Book is taken as a project, What are the key essentials you take care of in Project Management?

Time management is critical. I dedicate a minimum of six hours a week to working on my current project and thirty minutes a day to my social media presence. It would be more, but I currently have a 44 hour a week day job that fills a good percentage of my waking hours.

Quality control is another necessary component. I read my current project every two weeks from start to finish as a way to make sure I’m staying true to the story. I also seek feedback from friends and other writers to ensure my message is being interpreted the way I intended.

What are your future plans?

I am very close to finishing my third book, Cottage Cheese Thighs, and I have a fictional story I’m writing that is almost fifty-percent complete. My plan is to continue writing stories that make people feel better about themselves, at least, I run out of good ideas.

What is generally your preference in reading – a paper book or ebook? And why?

I prefer paperback books because I like the feel of it in my hands.

What four top most things you take care of while writing a book?

Authenticity, accuracy, purpose, and value are the four most important factors for my style of writing. I want the story to be true to myself and actual life events. It must achieve my ultimate purpose of uplifting others and it must provide the reader with some entertainment or educational value.

How much real life goes into a fiction writing?

I’ve only begun to explore fictional writing, but my first attempt at it is very realistic. I did substantial research on where it takes place, as well as significant character development. I’ve even acted out scenes to test their plausibility. There are countless high-quality fiction writers in this world and it’s essential that my story is as believable as possible to earn the respect of avid fiction readers.

This is a tie because I have two favorites that I love for different reasons. Of Mice and Men was the first story that made me think, back when I was still in high school. Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert inspired me to write my first memoir, which is why that book will always hold a special place in my heart.

Your favorite food?

It’s a joke amongst my friends that I was born on the wrong continent. I love all forms of Asian cuisine. Any combination of shrimp and vegetables on noodles or rice in a spicy sauce would be my favorite. I enjoy most Indian food for the same reason.

Your favorite sports?

I only play one sport and that’s women’s floor hockey, so I guess that’s my favorite.

What is the force that drives you?

Every time someone reads one of my stories and then sends me a message saying that it helped them deal with challenges in their own life. That feeling motivates me to continue.

Here is a small video - Jenn talking about her life:

What comes to your mind when you think of India?

I’ve made two friends from India through my Dark Confessions of an Extraordinary, Ordinary Woman Facebook page and they are the first thing that comes to my mind. They are both strong and vocal women, which breaks my previous perception of women from India.

What three words come to your mind for each;

Technology – Limitless, Innovation, Engaging

Life –Limitless, Love, Happiness

God – Empowering, Forgiving, Guiding

Humanity – United, Hope, Love

Terrorism – Deadly, Hateful, Sin

Racism – Pointless, Unfair, Sin

Childhood Abuse – Damaging, Inexcusable, Sin

Love – Respect, Compassion, Trust

Parenting- Commitment, Care, Responsibility

Old age – Wisdom, Experience, Retirement

If one fine morning you wake up and find your sex changed to the opposite, what will be your first reaction?

Although I wasn’t sure how to answer it, I absolutely love the creativity this question inspires!

The immediate reaction would obviously be shock and curiosity! Once I grasped my new circumstances, my first thought would be, “How will I continue to write inspirational stories for women now that I’m a man?”

State your signature line/ tagline/ best quote

My best quote comes from my greatest realization,

“Once I realized my life was valuable, I started to treat it that way.

The last line of your autobiography would be…

The last line in Dark Confessions of an Extraordinary, Ordinary Woman is “Never Give Up!”

The last line in Dirty Secrets of the World’s Worst Employee is “Live a Limitless Life.”

Here is a note from Jen for me:

Thank you so much for the creative and thought-provoking interview questions. I truly appreciate your interest in sharing my story. Sincerely, Jenn Sadai

Thank you so much, Jenn, for the excellent answers coming straight from the heart.